artist statement
As you browse through my photographs of the physical walls, the steel barriers, immoveable strong and self-righteous, the highly technical surveillance systems, the gates and fences, what you don’t see are the echoes heard throughout the world of the walls we have put up in our minds and in our hearts. These walls, the strongest of all, each one of us has the power to either tear down or fortify.

The border is not just a place; it is the very thinnest line between the lives of human beings, subject to different laws, cultures and heritage, all intertwining for generations.

This is not just a collection of photographs documenting the plight of the illegal immigrant, but an intermingling of this phenomenon with everyday life on the border.

From the beginning of humanity, borders have been the frontier of its societies, the no-man's land where normal life is a rarity and parallel subcultures, governments and diverse border activities have to coexist subject only to a distant government and its political whims, changing ever so slowly. Borders are where day and night are worlds apart with totally different rules, but each with a certain respect for the other.

The border between America and Mexico is largely a low income area where its inhabitants live by their own convictions. There are those that grow up on the border with no other place that would seem real and others that are drawn to it for its freedom or opportunity to be creative. Adding to this mix, many elderly, disabled, or ill move here, attracted by not just the climate but the very low cost of medical services and prescription drugs available just across the border in Mexico.

I have found here a people that are compassionate with a deep respect for privacy yet ready to help one another while keeping an open mind to cultural and social differences. They are fearful that their world is about to change. This project documents the people living on the border and the changes that will cause the last American frontier to vanish before us.

Of the 1,940 miles of the America/Mexico border I have carefully chosen this few hundred mile stretch and the small town of Arivaca, Arizona (population 200) to center my attention on because it is so typical of the small, isolated, south western border towns, yet so vulnerable to change. Once we found this place, my wife and I sold our ranch in northwestern Colorado to move here so that I could photograph the everyday activities and evolution of life on the America/Mexico border.

The majority of the Mexicans that come here are a caring and considerate people who just want to work and return to their home in Mexico and their families where the cost of living is lower and medical and dental care is affordable. Closing the border creates many problems and hardships for both sides as well as escalating opportunities for people smugglers. The illegal drug trade is a totally different problem relating to social and economic values which is an American problem because we have created a consumer market for these products.

The images in this exhibition need no more explanation than the quiet contemplation into the moods, feelings and emotions resulting from the transformation of a quiet border town into a proverbial war zone.




biography
Karl W. Hoffman was born in Frankfort, Germany, and raised on Cape Cod, with a longing to go west. After breaking his neck horseback riding, Karl had to give up a promising career in professional skiing. While recuperating, Karl took up silversmithing, and then studied the construction and design of fine jewelry in New York City.

Karl W. Hoffman is an internationally recognized artist in gold, creator of fine art jewelry and precious metal sculpture. He has shown his artwork in some of the most prestigious galleries and museums throughout the country, for the past 35 years. Karl still creates one of a kind contemporary art pieces start to finish, in gold and silver, unencumbered by social rules or lack of technical ability, exclusively for several fine art galleries.

In search of a new and more creative outlet to enable him to grow in his world of art, and to be better able to translate and capture more of life’s feelings, Karl took a new path, pursuing photography. He began by photographing his own jewelry. Looking through the camera was a natural progression and with 35 years of design experience, composition came naturally, and the world became more meaningful. A self-taught professional photographer, and aside form his internationally acclaimed fine art images, Karl has freelanced in photojournalism, graphic design, commercial photography, crime scene photography, aerial intelligence photography for the military and currently published in U.S. News and World Report. Karl has recently finished a two-year documentary recording everyday life on the American/Mexican border, the last American frontier as it vanishes before us, for which he has been nominated for one international award and one national award in photojournalism

“Blending art and adventure feeds the creative spirit. I have experienced many wonderful hours through this lifetime in observance and contemplation of the human race in regards to our very existence and the destiny of our soul. The task of translating this into simple art forms, so others may feel with out the pain is my gift back to humanity.”

Karl W. Hoffman is currently represented by the following galleries of fine art; Exposures International Gallery Sedona, AZ, Battle Mountain Gallery Minturn CO, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins CO, Marjon Gallery Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA, Glass Illusions Gallery Tucson, AZ, Rogoway Gallery Tubac AZ, Tubac Center of the Arts Tubac AZ, Tortuga Books, Tubac AZ, Arivaca Artists Co-operative Gallery, Arivaca, AZ, Hilltop Gallery Nogales, AZ







awards and accolades


"Karl W. Hoffman has captured the raw moments along the Arizona-Mexico border that challenge the human tendency to draw invisible
lines through the landscape and people's lives. His work is of international significance, from the Sonoran Desert to New York City."

Jessica Lee, The Indypendent, New York



BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS HONORS
FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER FROM ARIVACA, ARIZONA, USA
LONDON January 3, 2007 - Black and White Fine Art Photographer
Karl W. Hoffman of Arivaca, Arizona, USA was nominated for the 2007 Black and White Spider Awards in the categories of Photo journalism and Landscape at a prestigious live online Awards Ceremony presented by Black and White Spider Awards to recognize excellence in black and white photography.

Thousands of images were received from over sixty countries and the nominated photographers were selected by a who's who Judging Panel form the international photography community, including Magnum Photos, LIFE Magazine, Tate Gallery, and the Leica Photo Gallery. The Panel reviewed the images online over a eight wee period and Karl W. Hoffman's photograph titled "Crossing The Border" in the Photo journalism Category and His photograph titled "After the Burn" in the landscape Category were both exceptional images and received a high percentage of the votes overall.

"The Spider Awards celebrates photographers who operate at the highest levels of their craft," said the awards Creative Director, Basil O'Brien. "Karl W. Hoffman's entries certainly represent black and white imaging at its finest, and we're pleased to nominate Mr. Hoffman for his outstanding achievements and contributions to Black and White Photography.

BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.

You can view the 2007 Nominees and Winners Gallery online at
http://www.thespiderawards.com


Yale University Press, London
"Living on the Border is a fascinating physical, social and psychological state".
Robert Baldock, Editor & Managing Director


Photographer's Forum Magazine
Award for Excellence in Photojournalism is granted to Karl W. Hoffman for his photograph of the
"Beggar Boy" from the documentary "Living on the Border"


Stephen Rountree Graphics Director US News and World Report
“your photos are awesome” Published in the June 25th 2007 issue



listen to Karl on "The Candid Frame" podcast


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